Richmond, VA Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)

Section 5-9 makes clear that starting work covered by the building code before obtaining the required permit does not excuse the fee: the owner must still pay for the entire scope of work once the permit is issued, and paying the fee does not stop the City from separately prosecuting the unpermitted start under the Uniform Statewide Building Code. Anyone issued a stop work order also owes an administrative fee the Council sets to cover the cost of issuing the order and any resulting legal action.

Section 5-8 defines a valid permit as one duly issued by the Bureau for the specific site and work described in the application, and Section 5-10 gives the Commissioner of Buildings ongoing authority to periodically inspect any building or structure, permanent or temporary, as State law and the Uniform Statewide Building Code allow. Section 5-6 requires every permit holder to submit a cost affidavit to the Commissioner before final inspection so fees can be trued up against the higher of the contractor's stated value or the RSMeans estimate, with any project subject to an audit at the Commissioner's discretion. 00 per hour.